Of course, rom-coms are in the business of making people sigh to themselves, “I wish I had that.” But underneath the sugar-spun exterior, there’s a distinct authenticity that every really good romantic comedy needs to have in order to work.

The best romantic comedies preach that even when we are at our most genuine, it’s possible for us to be loved for who we are. Our truest selves are capable of being understood. That’s not fantasy. That’s vulnerability.

These are just a few examples of something that has become more common in recent years: the idea that love sells, just as well as anticipation does. People turn to TV for stories of hope and comfort, and would rather see themselves reflected in a relationship that is long-lasting and realistic than one with so many twists and turns that you lose sight of which way is up.

Here’s a message to all TV writers: yes, romantic tension is great — even essential — and can suck viewers into your story, but it has an expiry date. Your most passionate viewers will be borne from the potential of a relationship, but they are also the ones you risk turning against you should you waste that potential.

Canadian Spotlight

In Black Mirror’s “Arkangel,” Brenna Harding’s character Sara hitches a ride from a truck just before it crosses a bridge. In the distance the towers of an urban skyline are dim profiles in the late afternoon sun, but all around her are the signs of an industrial neighbourhood — a factory, construction pylons, and decaying municipal infrastructure. Although set in an anonymous American town, the scene was shot on Cherry Street in Toronto’s Portlands.

Elizabeth Mitchell stands in the middle of David Pecaut Square. The protest all around her character, Anna Volovodov, sets up the conflict that will dominate all of her scenes in the second episode of The Expanse’s Season 3: is she a friend, or a foe, of Secretary General Sorrento-Gillis’ administration?

Interviews

“For the most part, we’re in this dark, post-apocalyptic brain of Jason Rothenberg.”

That’s how composer Tree Adams describes working on The 100. Since the first moments of Season 3, where we got the initial taste of Adams’ work, his music has become an integral part of the show. We at TBT Media had the chance to interview the composer recently, discussing everything from his composing process to Octavia’s musical evolution to teasers for the upcoming episode, “Shifting Sands.”

Book Reviews

It’s a story about parenthood, and the tenuous threads of connection a parent is desperate to establish with their child. It’s a story about breaking and forming bonds of love. It’s a story about legacy.